We Don’t Always Travel on Points—But We Always Collect Them

Over the years, we’ve learned this simple truth: even if you don’t plan your whole trip using points, you should always be collecting them. Whether it’s through a credit card, an airline, or a hotel stay—points add up faster than you think. They’ve helped us score free flights, room upgrades, and even whole vacations.

This issue is all about how we earn (and use!) both nonbranded and branded points—and why you should be collecting both too.

A quick note: Use credit cards responsibly—always pay your balance in full to avoid interest charges. And you don’t need a wallet full of cards. Pick the ones that fit your travel goals and spending habits best.

💳 Nonbranded Points: Flexibility is the Ultimate Travel Hack

We love the flexibility of collecting nonbranded points—especially from American Express and Chase. These types of points can be transferred to a wide range of hotel and airline partners, giving you the power to find the best deal for each trip.

We’ve used nonbranded points to travel to:

• Egypt
• Uganda
• Doha
• Thailand
• And many domestic U.S. cities

Our favorite cards for this strategy (Links to apply in Blue):

• ​Amex Platinum – Great for travel perks like lounge access and 5x points on flights (click personal cards, and scroll down)
• ​Amex Gold – Ideal for dining and groceries (4x points!)
• ​Chase Sapphire Reserve – Solid travel protection and 3x on travel & dining
• ​Chase Sapphire Preferred – A great starter with 2x on travel & dining
• ​Chase Freedom Unlimited and Freedom Flex – Rotating 5x bonus categories and no annual fee

Under full disclosure, we have the American Express Platinum, American Express Gold, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Freedom Unlimited. We use the Amex Gold the most because it earns 4x on food (grocery and restaurant). The Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve have very high annual fees, so please make sure you will utilize the card benefits to recoup the fee—otherwise, I’d recommend sticking with the others.

Travel Tip:​
If you shop through Rakuten, you can choose to earn Amex Membership Rewards (MR) instead of cash back.
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Rakuten is a free site and browser extension that gives you rewards for online shopping at thousands of stores. Just click through their site (or activate in your browser) before you check out. It’s a super easy way to rack up extra points on things you were buying anyway!

If you are new to Rakuten, please sign up with my link. We will both get $30 in cash or 300 MR.

🏨✈️ Branded Points: When Loyalty Pays Off (Literally)

Even if you only fly occasionally or stay at hotels a few times a year—sign up for those loyalty programs! Years ago, when I was traveling frequently for work, I collected branded points with a few airlines and hotel chains. It paid off in a big way.

We’ve taken points trips to:

• Hawaii
• Singapore
• Costa Rica
• Several U.S. cities​
  All at no or very low cost—thanks to airline and hotel points I earned from work travel.

And here’s a favorite story:
Several years ago, we flew to Australia. When we checked into our hotel, they asked if we wanted to upgrade using points. Thanks to the points I had from work trips, we said yes! and ended up in a gorgeous harbor-view, high-floor room. That upgrade made our stay extra memorable—and it didn’t cost us a dime.

You never know when those branded points will come in handy. So even if you don’t use them right away, be sure to create an account with any hotel or airline you use. It takes just a minute—and you’ll thank yourself later.

⭐ Travel Tip: Don’t Leave Points on the Table

Always sign up for the airline or hotel loyalty program—even if you only use them once. And when possible, double-dip by booking with a nonbranded card that earns transferable points!

📌 My Recommendation​
​This leather slim wallet is a must-have for travel. Both my husband and I have used it for years—it’s slim, sleek, and fits just what you need on a trip. In fact, my husband used his so much he wore it out! I replaced it earlier this year, but the original lasted since 2021. We both travel with ours and love how lightweight and durable it is.

🙏 Thanks for Reading & Supporting Travel Must Do’s!​
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Talk soon,
✈️ Melodie from TravelMustDos.com​

P.S. Forward this email to a friend who’s planning a trip—they’ll thank you later!